When Do Boys Start Having Body Odor?

Boys and Puberty

• His sweaty soccer uniforms never smelled great, but they'll take on a distinctive new odor when puberty begins. That's when you're likely to notice body odor beginning for your boy. Puberty starts slightly later in boys than it does in girls but there's no one age at which the process begins. Expect a boy to start going through puberty somewhere between the ages of 10 and 14 years old, says HealthyChildren.org. In addition to body odor, a boy will start growing hair on his face, chest and genitals, will notice his genitals getting larger and will start developing larger muscles. In rare cases, a boy will have what's called precocious puberty and will start puberty before the age of 9, according to the University of Michigan Health System. If you notice signs of early puberty in your boy, take him to the pediatrician.

Body Odor 101

• If he notices that he's stinkier than normal, a boy will probably wonder why. Explain to him why body odor happens to help him understand how to deal with it. Puberty doesn't much affect how sweat is formed; this mixture is still made of water, chemicals, salts and sugar, though puberty might affect the mixture of chemicals and make his sweat smell stronger than normal, according to KidsHealth.org. That nose-wrinkling odor happens when sweat mixes with bacteria on the skin. When puberty begins, a boy's raised hormones send his sweat glands into overdrive, and more sweating equals more odor. Body odor can be a daily issue for preteen and teen boys, but it becomes especially noticeable during sweaty times like while playing sports or on a sweltering day.

Fighting Body Odor

• Banishing body odor, for most boys, doesn't take much more than regular bathing. Teach a boy starting puberty to shower every day, preferably in the morning, and after any sweaty activity. KidsHealth.org suggests using mild soap and water to clean the body, though your child might prefer a scented body wash or a cleanser intended to fight acne (another staple of puberty). Remind him to wash thoroughly, cleaning his face, armpits, genitals and feet along with the rest of his body. Buy him a deodorant with antiperspirant to apply to his underarms each morning and throughout the day. If he continues to sweat heavily or feels embarrassed by his body odor, ask his pediatrician for advice about other products like prescription antiperspirants.

Tips for Parents

• When his mind is on algebra, video games and the sudden mysteries of girls, a preteen or teen boy might not care much about keeping body odor from happening. Practicing adequate hygiene is his job, but you can help keep him smelling sweet. Remind him not to re-wear clothing, since yesterday's stink will make him smell today. Put a laundry hamper in his room and either be diligent about washing his clothes quickly or teach him to do his own laundry. Buy him shoes, socks and clothing made of natural materials like cotton, wool and leather; according to MayoClinic.com, these materials allow the skin to breathe instead of trapping odors. Buy him foot powder to shake in between his clean toes to stop foot odors, but discourage him from trying to cover up body odor by spraying on tons of cheap, strong body spray.